Northeast Ohioans seeking drug addiction treatment in Florida

WARREN, Ohio – Wednesday night we told you about a Florida addiction rehab paying the way for nine locals to get help in the sunshine state. Now an emotional story of survival from one Northeast Ohio family who credits the facility with saving one of their son’s lives.

“You gave us our son back,” said Mary Ellen Karkoska of North Ridgeville.
A thank you to the therapist who helped her son Andrew Karkoska become sober for the last six and a half months.
“When he came home I didn’t know what to expect. I was hoping for the best but it was a miracle it really was a miracle. He’s done so good,” said Andrew’s father Ron Karkoska.
It has been a 10 year nightmare for the Karkoskas. Andrew started smoking pot at a young age and eventually turned to heroin and crack cocaine.
“Actually I seen andrew overdose in July. I found him in the bathroom, called 911 and shortly after that I decided you can’t keep putting this off,” said Ron.
Ron saw a number for addiction recovery on TV one day. He called it and was connected to LakeHaven Recovery Center in Pompano Beach Florida. The idea of getting on a plane and getting away sounded good to Andrew.“I feel if I would have went to a treatment up here, I dont’ know if I would have stayed. I probably would have gave up cause I know I could have walked out, and gone back to the every day struggle but when you’re three thousand miles from home or however far, it’s a little hard to do,” said Andrew.
Kara Parschauer of Elyria also sought treatment at LakeHaven. Now she has been sober for eight months and moved back.
She and Andrew crossed paths at LakeHaven and were both at the dinner Wednesday.
“There are some places that deal with addiction not mental, so I definitely needed every aspect of my life pieced back together,” said Parschauer.
It’s a second chance at life for Kara, Andrew, and their hoping for Andrew’s brother Michael, who’s currently in jail due to drug addiction.
“It was the best decision I ever made,” said Andrew.
Andrew lives in a sober house now with other addicts in recovery. He wants to be the role model he never was for his brother.
The organization Solace of the Valley will be accepting the applications on their web site. There will be information on their web site soon.